LATEST NEWS OF THE PROJECTS

Once a year, IMBEWU’s general coordinator visits the projects for a follow-up. These visits are essential to develop a finer understanding of the context of where the activities take place as well as to adapt the strategy and structure of the projects as closely as possible to the local reality.

STRENGTHENING TIES

Thus, in August 2016, Anne Roulet, went to meet with our South African partners for the second time since joining IMBEWU. This time, Anne was accompanied by Milena Boulianne, committee member and project manager for the project ACADEMY OF CREATIVITY.

Anne had already established and developed a direct and close relationship with the members of our partner organisations during her first visit in 2015. This allowed her time to enjoy seeing familiar faces before getting straight down to business: visiting the various activities, meetings with coaches and local team leaders, discussions around the structure of the activities, planning and budget revision for 2017. The two week stay passed very quickly, full of constructive exchanges, new impressions on the complexity of the South African context, in an atmosphere of good humour.

RENEWAL AND CONTINUITY

Our partner in Pretoria Altus Sport still continues its daily commitment to the children and young people of the Mamelodi Township. Samantha Pennells became project manager for BOPHELO KE KGWELE at the beginning of 2016. Professional and a good listener, she is competent in managing the complex situations which arise continuously in the difficult context of the townships. The Youth Leaders team has also seen some changes: three of them have taken on new responsibilities and the sessions within the coach group have been reorganized. Finally, contact with two new primary schools in the township have been developed with a view to integrating them into the project.

In Port Elisabeth, the ACADEMY OF CREATIVITY project launched this year with our partner Masifunde continues to develop: the art and life skills sessions have been put in place, the groups are filling up and the classes are already showing positive results. Furthermore, following the Masifunde Youth Choir’s trip to Europe, the choir recorded an album with the songs from the tour and have gained some new participants. The drama group performs regularly in other schools in the area as part of a programme on addiction prevention whilst students from the visual arts group are preparing an exhibition for this month. During all this time, work on the building of a new centre has started and is coming along nicely.

Finally, UTS our partner for the SIYAKHULA project, continues to run regular activities and the participating children are making good progress particularly in English and Maths. All are very motivated to join the training sessions for their favourite sports and thanks to the life skills sessions, are learning to express themselves with greater ease. Even the younger ones gain visibly in confidence from day to day.

INTERNSHIP

IMBEWU is a co-founder of Latitude 21, the Neuchatel Federation for Development Cooperation. To find out more about their latest news, visitLatitude 21._______________________________________________________

In 2016, IMBEWU became an official member of FEDEVACO, the Federation for Development Cooperation in Vaud.